Time Period: December 1-31, 2014

Main Issues

1. Asia-Pacific: U.S. Continues to Play the Role of Peacemaker; China Reiterates Its Sovereignty

United States 
December 1, Daily Press Briefing
December 3, Daily Press Briefing
December 3, Testimony by Assistant Secretary Daniel R. Russel: Evaluating the Impact of the "Umbrella Movement"
December 10, Daily Press Briefing
December 11, Daily Press Briefing
December 23, Daily Press Briefing 

China
December 5, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying's Regular Press Conference
December 9, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hong Lei's Regular Press Conference

2. Direction of U.S.-China Cooperation: U.S. Woos China with Strong Charm Offensive; China Highlights the Mutual Benefits of an Enhanced Relationship

United States
December 4, Remarks by Deputy Assistant Secretary for Transportation Thomas S. Engle, Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs U.S. International Aviation Policy and Challenges
December 8, Remarks by Deputy Assistant Secretary Frank A. Rose: Strategic Stability in East Asia
December 8, Press Releases: Readout of Acting Deputy Secretary Sherman's Meeting With Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin
December 16, Remarks by Assistant Secretary Daniel R. Russel, Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs: Remarks at the Brookings Institution
December 18, Press Releases: Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Russel travels to India and China
December 22, Daily Press Briefing
December 29, Daily Press Briefing
December 29, Daily Press Briefing 

China
December 4, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying's Regular Press Conference

3. Economic Cooperation: U.S. Talks Currency Exchange, TPP and U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade; China Critical of U.S. House of Representatives

United States 
December 3, Remarks of Under Secretary Sheets at the National Press Club, Event hosted by Brookings Institution
December 11, Remarks by the President at Meeting of the Export Council
December 12, U.S. Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker, U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman Preview Upcoming U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade
December 18, YEAR IN REVIEW: Creating Economic Opportunity for All Americans in 2014
December 19, U.S. and Chinese Delegations Conclude 25th Session of the U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade
December 19, FOREIGN PRESS CENTER Briefings: Readout of the U.S. - China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade
December 19, U.S. and Chinese Delegations Conclude 25th Session of the U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade
December 19, U.S. and Chinese Delegations Conclude 25th Session of the U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade 

China
December 12, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hong Lei's Regular Press Conference
December 19, MOFCOM Spokesman Sun Jiwen Comments on U.S. House of Representatives’ Passing Appropriation Bill with Unfavorable Terms on China

4. Cooperation on Military Security: U.S. and China Sign MOU, Militaries Show Signs of Stronger Collaborative Efforts

United States 
December 19, Department of Defense Press Briefing by Rear Adm. Kirby 

China
December 8, Remarks by Assistant Foreign Minister Zhang Kunsheng at the ARF Seminar on Sea Lines of Communications Security
December 25, Defense Ministry’s Regular Press Conference
December 27, Defense Ministry’s Regular Press Conference

5. Human Rights: U.S. Critical of China's Human Rights Record; China Advises the U.S. to Practice "Self-Examination"

United States 
December 10, Press Statement by Secretary of State John Kerry: Human Rights Day 2014
December 10, Press Briefing by the Press Secretary Josh Earnest, 12/10/14
December 24, Press Statement by Secretary of State John Kerry: Fifth Anniversary of Liu Xiaobo's Conviction
December 24, Press Statement by Secretary of State John Kerry: Fifth Anniversary of Liu Xiaobo's Conviction 

China
December 11, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hong Lei's Regular Press Conference
December 19, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Qin Gang's Regular Press Conference
December 25, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying's Regular Press Conference

6. Climate Change: U.S. and China Continue to be Buoyed by Historic Climate Change Agreement

United States 
December 3, Remarks by Secretary of State John Kerry: Press Availability in Brussels, Belgium
December 11, Remarks by Secretary of State John Kerry: Remarks on Climate Change at COP-20
December 11, Briefing: Background Briefing on Secretary Kerry's Travel to Lima, Peru and Bogota, Colombia
December 11, Op-Ed by Secretary of State John Kerry: No Single Country Can Solve Climate Change 

China
December 9, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hong Lei's Regular Press Conference
December 15, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Qin Gang's Regular Press Conference

7. Middle East and Africa: U.S. Squarely Focused on ISIL and Ebola; China Expresses Its Support for Palestinian Statehood

United States
December 2, Department of Defense Press Briefing by Rear Adm. Kirby
December 2, FACT SHEET: Update on the Ebola Response
December 07, Media Availability with Secretary Hagel at Forward of Base Gamberi, Afghanistan
December 9, Testimony by Secretary of State John Kerry: Authorization for the Use of Military Force Against ISIL
December 15, Op-Ed by Secretary of State John Kerry: South Sudan's Leaders Need To Set Aside Their Dispute
December 16, Remarks by Assistant Secretary Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Bureau of African Affairs: A Celebration of Excellence in U.S.-Africa Business Relations
December 16, Department of Defense Press Briefing by Rear Adm. Kirby
December 18, Remarks by Ambassador David Pressman, U.S. Alternate Representative to the United Nations for Special Political Affairs, at a Security Council Briefing on Iran and Resolution 1737 

China
December 31, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying’s Regular Press Conference

8. Korean Peninsula: U.S. and China Diverge on the Commission of Inquiry into Human Rights Violations in North Korea, Controversy over the Film "The Interview" Draws Comment from both Sides

United States 
December 19, Daily Press Briefing
December 22, Remarks at a Security Council Session on the Human Rights Situation in North Korea

China
December 23, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying's Regular Press Conference
December 26, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying's Regular Press Conference
December 26, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying's Regular Press Conference

9. Cybersecurity: U.S. and China Resolve to Work Closer on Cyber Attacks, U.S. Seeks Chinese Support in Strengthening Cybersecurity Measures

United States
December 3, Remarks by the President at the Business Roundtable
December 19, Press Statement by Secretary of State John Kerry: Condemning Cyber-Attack by North Korea
December 22, Daily Press Briefing
December 23, Daily Press Briefing  

China
December 22, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying's Regular Press Conference
December 29, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying's Regular Press Conference

10. Taiwan: U.S. Urges More Peaceful Dialogue Between Taiwan and China; Chinese Accuse the U.S. of Meddling

United States
December 1, Daily Press Briefing 

China
December 8, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hong Lei's Regular Press Conference
December 19, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Qin Gang's Regular Press Conference
December 25, Defense Ministry’s Regular Press Conference

(Continued)